Portable active protection system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a single system that can simultaneously protects a plurality of assets, such as soldiers, vehicles and structures in a given perimeter. The assets are, for example, vehicles and structures that could not otherwise be protected due to tactical and mechanical limitations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. application entitled PortableActive Protection System, U.S. Ser. No. 15/736,901, filed on Dec. 15,2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,330,444, which is the National Stage ofInternational Application Serial No. PCT/IL2016/050643, filed on Jun.19, 2016, which itself claims benefit of priority from ForeignApplication IL 239522 (Israel), filed Jun. 18, 2015. The contents ofeach of the foregoing applications are herein incorporated by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates in general to portable activeprotection systems for protecting assets, including soldiers, vehiclesand structures from incoming missiles and rockets. More specifically,the invention relates to an active protection system which may behandheld.

Known in the art are variety of systems that are designed to interceptand destroy incoming missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast thatejects a plurality of particles towards the incoming object with theintent of jeopardizing its structure integrity to the point of renderingit useless or impairing its functionality. For example, a system knownin the art by its commercial name “Trophy”, is a military system foractive protection for vehicles, such as light and heavy armored fightingvehicles and vehicles in general. Developed by Rafael Advanced DefenseSystems and Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Group, the systemintercepts and destroys incoming missiles and rockets with theabovementioned shotgun-like blast, as to supplement the fightingvehicles' armor.

The above prior art systems are designed to protect the vehicle thatthey are placed on, and as the systems are highly expensive, theirdeployment is limited to a select few only. Furthermore, as the systemis deployed on vehicles that are already fitted with a variety of othersystems such as radar, electro-optics, communication, and weaponssystems, the deployment on the vehicles poses a great engineeringchallenge, as well as a tactical handicap, as the systems activation inbattle conditions is limited by the need to avoid damage to all otherexisting systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a single system that cansimultaneously protect a plurality of assets, such as soldiers, vehiclesand structures in a given perimeter.

It is another object of the invention to significantly reduce the costsinvolved in protecting a plurality of vehicles.

It is still another object of the invention to enable protection ofassets, such as vehicles and structures that could not otherwise beprotected due to tactical and mechanical limitations as mentioned above.

It is still another object of the invention to reduce the likelihood ofcollateral damage of charge activation to the carrying platform.

It is still another object of the invention to increase the likelihoodof a successful interception, relative to systems of the prior art,especially when a large number of missiles and rockets are fired at adesignated spot or a perimeter, either simultaneously or consecutively.

According to one aspect of the present embodiments, there is provided aninterception device for protecting assets from incoming missiles, whichdevice is autonomous of the asset being protected.

According to a further aspect of the present embodiments, there isprovided a vehicular interception device for protecting assets fromincoming missiles, the vehicular interception device comprisingautonomous positioning for positioning said vehicle in relation to saidassets and an expected threat.

According to a yet further aspect of the present embodiments, there isprovided an interception device for protecting assets from incomingmissiles, which device is man-portable for positioning to protect aperimeter.

An embodiment may be configured to track the location of at least oneasset and to intercept an incoming missile threatening said asset.

An embodiment may be configured to track the locations of a plurality ofassets as said assets move and to intercept an incoming missilethreatening at least one of said plurality of assets.

An embodiment may be configured to track the locations of a plurality ofassets as said assets move, to move to a position to defend said assetsagainst threats and to intercept an incoming missile threatening any oneof said plurality of assets.

An embodiment may comprise at lease one detection unit configured todetect incoming threats and a plurality of reaction units configured tointercept said incoming threats, and a control unit configured to selecta best located reaction unit to react to a given incoming threat.

An embodiment may comprise a plurality of control units and a pluralityof reaction units configured to intercept said incoming threats, saidcontrol units configured to communicate with each other to select a bestlocated reaction unit to react to a given incoming threat.

An embodiment may comprise at lease one radar unit configured to detectincoming threats, said at least one radar unit associated with one ofsaid control units.

An embodiment may relate to a system for protecting mobile or stationaryobjects from incoming missiles or rockets, which comprises: (a) at leastone detection unit for detecting an incoming object; (b) at least onecomputing unit for: (i) receiving information relating to the detectionof said incoming object, and location information from said plurality ofassets (ii) calculating the trajectory of said incoming object, and(iii) analyzing said information to timely activate one or more ofinterceptor modules to at least damage said incoming object. The assetsmay be provided respectively with a positioning unit and a communicationunit that are used for determining and transmitting, respectively,position data of each of the assets to ensure they are protected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in block diagram form the structure of a typical prior artprotection unit;

FIG. 2a shows how a central protection unit according to the inventionmay be used to protect plurality of assets in a perimeter;

FIG. 2b shows in block diagram form the structure of one embodiment ofthe system of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the system of the invention; and

FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c show respectively still another embodiment of theinvention, where one or more of portable protection units are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As noted, active protection systems utilizing the concept embodied bythe Trophy system and the like are designed to protect the vehicle thatthey are mounted on. The radar of said systems (may it be an RF, opticalor the like) is designed to scan the theater in which it operates, as todetect an incoming object, that is likely to hit the vehicle on whichthe radar and system are deployed. When the likelihood of a hit isestablished, the system is operated so as to intercept the incomingobject as set forth. If, however, the system determines that theincoming object will not hit the vehicle or structure on which it ismounted, the system is not activated, even though the inbound object mayeventually hit another friendly asset.

As will be shown, the present invention may drastically increase thesurvivability of friendly assets in the battlefield, even when theassets are not equipped with a system-type as described above.

The present invention provides a method and system for protectingmultiple assets, such as vehicles or structures, even when the assetsthemselves are not fitted with all or any of the system's components,i.e., the radar or the interceptors.

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of a typical prior art active protectionsystem 10 (such as a Trophy-type system). The system comprises adetection unit 11 (such as electro-optic or RF radar), a computing unit12, and one or more interception modules 13. Typically, the detectionunit 11 continuously scans the perimeter around the vehicle. The scanreadings are analyzed by the computing unit 12, so as to detect anincoming object that may pose a threat to the protected vehicle. Uponsuch detection, the computing unit 12 may activate the one or moreinterceptor modules in a manner that will assure the highest chance ofintercepting the incoming object. However, if the computing unit 12determines that the incoming object is not likely to hit the vehicle, itwill avoid activation.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a deployment of the system of the presentinvention in battle conditions, according to a first embodiment. Anactive protection system 110 is mounted on a Main Protection Vehicle(MPV) 115. The structure of system 110 (shown in FIG. 2b ) is in factsimilar to the structure of the system 10 of FIG. 1. In addition, MPV115 comprises a positioning unit (such as GPS) 121 a that determines itsown position. In addition, MPV 115 comprises a communication unit(receiver or transceiver) 123. In addition, each of the other friendlyassets 125 b-125 e in the perimeter of the MPV 115 comprises its ownpositioning unit 131 b-131 e, and its own communication unit 133 b-133e, respectively.

Each of the assets 125 b-125 e continuously transmits its own positionvia its own communication unit 133 a-133 d, respectively. Optionally,each of the assets might transmit additional asset data such as a uniqueID, as well as/or its functionality, number of occupants, urgency and/orstatus of mission, acceleration readings, and/or any type of data thatcan be collected via sensors array, etc. The MPV 115 receives thetransmitted locations, respectively from all of the assets 125, andoptionally any additional asset data. The received information isanalyzed by the computing unit 112 (shown in FIG. 2b ) at the MPV 115,to determine which of the assets can be protected by the MPV 115. Thisdetermination process is based on the capability of the MPV to protecteach of the assets, by analyzing the MPV's interceptor range, terrain(for example, by analyzing known Digital Elevation Maps), etc. Moreover,the received assets data can be taken into account to establishprotection priorities for each of the assets 125. As the MPV's protectedassets list is established, the MPV 115 may transmit its own list ofprotected assets (as well as any additional data related to the assets)to one or more of similar MPV's 115 in the battlefield. As other MPV'scomputing units 112 receive said list of protected assets (via their owncommunication unit 123), they can determine their own list of protectedassets, respectively, taking into account their ability to protectassets in an optimal way. Furthermore, an MPV might take into accountthe amount of interceptor modules available to it, as well as any otherrelevant data.

As an MPV 115 establishes its own list of protected assets in theperimeter, inbound missiles that poses a threat to said list ofprotected assets may be intercepted by said MPV by initiation of its oneor more interception modules 113.

In another embodiment, each of the various assets 125 might be equippedwith its own interceptor modules 113 b-113 e, respectively, howeverwithout a detection unit (such as detection unit 111 of FIG. 2b ), whilein this case the MPV itself may be in charge of activating theinterceptor modules 113 of each of the protected assets 125,accordingly.

It should be noted that the computing unit 112 of the MPV 115 maycalculate a geographic location which is optimal for it to protect theassets existing in its own list. Once this geographic location isestablished, the MPV moves to this optimal calculated location. The MPVmay further receive via its communication unit 123 real timeintelligence driven data by which it may position or reposition itself,or it may amend its assets list. In still another alternative, the oneor more MPVs 115 positions, and their asset lists, respectively, may betransmitted to a command and control center (not shown) as to allow acommanding body to assign each of a plurality of MPVs to secure ageographic perimeter, respectively, regardless of their own-calculatedassets lists.

In still another embodiment, the MPV 115 may be of robotic type. In sucha case, the MPV may use robotic driving capabilities known in the art toposition itself within a military formation, such as a column ofvehicles, so as to provide protection to the formation, which protectionis updated as it moves.

In still another embodiment an MPV may be guided to a position eithermanually or robotically. On the MPV there are only interceptor modules113 that are remotely activated by a remote detection unit 111 and arelated computing unit 112 so as to secure friendly assets in aperimeter.

In still another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the protection unit 110 isstationary. In some embodiments the unit may be manually portable and inother embodiments may be provided by or mounted on or integrated with avehicle. The protection unit scans via its detection unit 111 (notshown) a given terrain as to detect inbound missiles 141 aimed atfriendly assets 125. The friendly assets may be moving vehicles orstationary structures or soldiers or formations of soldiers or vehicles.Stationary interceptors 113 may be positioned for example atpredetermined geographical locations (such as next to a border 170) soas to achieve in a very inexpensive way a very large scale perimeterprotection of friendly assets. Likewise portable units may be positionedby soldiers engaged in operations to protect themselves from missilefire. Interceptors 113 may be positioned in large clusters so as todefeat an attempt to pierce the perimeter protection (such as border170) by firing a large number of missiles to an exact point, themissiles being intended to exhaust the interceptors supply. In apreferred embodiment, large charges, for example, 25 Kg of composite Band 20 Kg of rigid fragments, such as metal balls, may be positioned inknown positions, wherein the charges may be angled towards the directionfrom which the inbound missile is expected to come, and then the systemmay activate them as to destroy inbound missiles that are shot fromhostile locations, for example, across the border line 170. The exactcoordinates of each of the charge interceptors (charges) 113 may beverified manually, for example, by use of GPS or surveying equipment,wherein the coordinates are fed into the computing unit 112 (not shown)of protecting system 110 as to enable it to timely activate one or moreof the interceptors 113 to detonate appropriate charges.

In still another embodiment, the location of the assets 125 may bedetected using a detection unit such as radar, camera, etc., preferablyconcurrently the asset location data is conveyed to the computing unit112 (not shown) within the respective protecting unit 110. The radar maybe mounted on an MPV 115, or may be static or may be man-portable.

In still another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c , a crucialbattle zone problem is solved. In numerous events, soldiers in closequarter combat end up barricading themselves in a building. In eventsgraphically depicted in the movie “Black Hawk Down”, insurgents usedRPG7 shoulder-mounted rockets to attack barricaded soldiers as thesoldiers were unable to evacuate the compound in which they werebesieged. So as to secure a perimeter against shoulder mounted rockets,a portable interception unit 180 is provided to defeat incomingmissiles. As shown in FIG. 4b (showing the cross section of the portableinterception unit 180), the charge within the interception unit 180 iscomprised of rigid particles 181 (such as ball bearings), high explosive182, and a detonation circuit (not shown). The charge is associated witha small short range detection unit 183 (such as optical, and/orelectromagnetic, RF radar, etc.), which may be housed within the casingof portable unit 180, or external thereof—as shown in FIG. 4c whichshows an interception device 180 which operates centrally to control oneor more of units 180 a-180 d. Upon detection of an incoming missile by adetection unit 183, a blast sequence may be initiated, ejecting therigid particles towards the incoming missile to render it ineffective.As shown in FIG. 4c , a single interception device 180 may control andactivate a plurality of portable interceptors 180 a-d, via a physicalline or wireless (using communication units 123). In the case where aplurality of portable interceptor units are associated with a singleinterception device 180 (as shown in FIG. 4c ), the interceptor unitsmay be scattered at a distance from one another.

As activation of charges may be expected to coincide with an exactlocation of a charge in relation to an incoming missile trajectory, theportable interceptors 180 are equipped with a positioning unit 121,enabling the computing unit within the portable unit 180 to timelyactivate the blast sequence by the interceptors.

The different units 180, 180 a, 180 b etc may communicate with eachother to ensure that only the most appropriately placed unit reacts toany given incoming threat.

In an embodiment, the MPV 115 may be sent ahead of a tank or other assetand provide a buffer zone or safety zone in which incoming missiles aredestroyed ahead of the assets. Such a buffer zone may be useful in thecase of soft assets such as soldiers being located in the vicinity ofhard assets such as tanks.

The present embodiments may be able to provide protection at angleswhich the geometry of a tank makes difficult to protect.

The MPV may be a vehicle dedicated to missile interception and may thuscontain more interception capacity than can be carried on the assetitself. Furthermore detonation of the interception device may bedistanced from the asset itself, thus avoiding damage to the asset. Inthis way, violent interception devices may be used to protect softassets such as soldiers. The interception devices may be any kind ofdevice and independent of the interception system.

I claim:
 1. An array of interception devices for protecting assets fromincoming missiles, which interception devices are man-portable forpositioning to protect a perimeter, the interception devices configuredto track the locations of a plurality of assets as said assets move andto intercept an incoming missile threatening any one of said pluralityof assets, the plurality of interception devices comprising a detectionunit, a plurality of reaction units and a control unit, the detectionunit configured to detect incoming threats, said plurality of reactionunits configured to intercept said incoming threats, and said controlunit configured to select a best located one of said reaction units toreact to a given incoming threat.
 2. The array of interception devicesof claim 1, comprising a plurality of control units and a plurality ofreaction units configured to intercept said incoming threats, saidcontrol units configured to communicate with each other to select a bestlocated reaction unit to react to a given incoming threat.
 3. The arrayof interception devices of claim 1, further comprising a radar unitconfigured to detect incoming threats, said radar unit associated withone of said control units.
 4. A method for protecting assets fromincoming missiles, comprising: placing man-portable interception devicesaround a perimeter to be protected; tracking locations of a plurality ofassets within said perimeter as said assets move; detecting an incomingmissile threatening any one of said plurality of assets; controlling theplurality of interception devices to select a best located one of saidinterception devices to react to a given incoming threat; and causingsaid selected interception device to activate to intercept said incomingmissile.